Most sellers start out packing orders themselves, and that is fine. At some point the packing table starts to cost more than it saves. Here is how to tell whether you have reached that point.
Signs you are ready
- Packing orders takes more time than selling them.
- Inventory has taken over a room or the garage.
- Orders ship late when you are busy or away.
- You sell on several platforms and stock is hard to keep track of.
- A busy season or a big live show is coming and you are not sure you can keep up.
- Mistakes, such as wrong items or damaged packages, are creeping in.
If two or three of these sound familiar, it is worth getting a quote.
When it may be too early
A 3PL is not right for everyone yet. It may be too early if:
- You ship only a few orders a week and packing does not get in the way.
- Your products or packaging are still changing a lot.
- You enjoy the packing and your time is not the limit.
That can change quickly, so check again when your orders grow.
What to gather first
You will get a better quote, faster, if you know:
- Roughly how many orders you ship each month.
- How many distinct items (SKUs) you carry.
- The size and weight of your products.
- Where you sell, and where your customers are.
- How you handle returns today.
What changes after you switch
You send your inventory once. The warehouse stores it, picks, packs and ships every order, and handles returns. You see stock, orders and tracking in your dashboard, and you get your time back for selling.
Read our how it works page, or ask for a quote and we will tell you honestly whether it is the right time.